Bonanza

Bonanza was one of the best western shows to air or at least one of the most iconic ones. Bonanza slot lends only the music from the show and builds the rest of the game to fit its fast tempo. This game offers many surprises and at first a rather complicated way of play. Once you get used to it you will quickly fall in love with it, as it just runs like a dream. The only missing feature is the lack of proper symbols, but that we can forgive thanks to endless multipliers and thousands of ways to win.

Theme

The theme song from the classic show has been re-done a bit, though the tempo is still there and the notes highly recognizable. The background is set in a gold mine, as the real show was set upon the background of a gold rush. Six reels with four added symbols on the top make form the play area. Unfortunately, the symbols are just card values or gemstones, most likely for licensing reasons. For the nostalgic, the music has to do.

Betting Options and Functions

This is where it becomes slightly complicated. There are no paylines, but instead, there are about 117 649 Megaways to win. What this means is that there are six reels, and a win is credited if at least three symbols from left to right are on adjacent reels. Each reel can have up to six symbols. On top of these, there are four carts, each with a random symbol. These are counted in for reels two through five, creating up to seven symbol strong winning combinations. Once a combination hits it is removed from the screen and new symbols fall in its place. After a few spins, the system is easily understood.

The stake can be set anywhere from 0.20 to 20 credits, and all pays are multiplier by the stake. The normal symbols range their wins between 0.1 to 50 times the stake with the free spins adding an unlimited multiplier to the mix.

Features

The way the reels are set up is a feature all by itself. The main bonus features, however, are the free spins. The golden scatter icon will launch the twelve free spins as soon as four scatters are on the screen. Any extra gold bars awards five more free spins. After each reaction, that is to say, win, during free spins the win multiplier rises by one. Three or four scatters appearing as extra symbols award five and ten more free spins respectively. With reactions going on until there are no more wins and with unlimited win multiplier the free spins are fit to make a millionaire out of anyone.

Our Take

I fell in love with the slot immediately. Though only the fast tempo music remains of the nostalgic show it is somehow entirely fitting. It certainly adds a layer of added excitement to spinning the reels. The Megaways setup on the reels is an excellent innovation that easily separates Bonanza from other slots. Volatility is well set as well, and the game gives plenty of wins round after round.